Biological Projects

Smelt in the Togiak River are an important subsistence resource, used by 96% of the households in the village of Togiak (see drying smelt, photo, left). In a 1994 / 1995 harvest survey, smelt were 28% of the total catch, in pounds, of the non-salmonid fish harvested. Smelt are also thought to provide an important nutrient base for other fish species, birds, and marine animals.

This was the first study ever to collect baseline biological data and describe life history attributes on smelt in the Togiak River. Over 2,400 rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) were captured and sampled during this study. Only one eulachon (Thaleichtys pacificus) was identified in the sample. This study provides fisheries managers with the first information on run timing and species composition of smelt in the Togiak River.